NEW YORK, New York – November 1, 2016— In its continuing effort to help educate fans on how important the offensive line is to winning football, the Joe Moore Award will feature games on a weekly basis that feature O-Line units that have shown potential to win the award in the Joe Moore Award “Big Ugly Spotlight”. The list for Week Ten features Alabama @ LSU, Western Michigan @ Ball State, Nebraska @ Ohio Sate, Iowa @ Penn State and Florida @ Arkansas.

This week’s “Power Breakdown” will feature the SEC matchup of Alabama/LSU, with in-depth analysis provided by the team at The Scouting Academy, an online-based instructional curriculum whose instructors bring over 350 years of NFL front office and coaching experience.

The Crimson Tide continue to roll, as they have been fixed at #1 in the polls and received all but one of the first place votes in this week’s AP Poll. Meanwhile, LSU has turned their season around and has moved up to 15th in the AP rankings on the heels of an impressive 3-game winning streak. A Tiger upset in this game could make the home stretch of the remaining SEC regular season very intriguing.

Alabama’s very good offensive line has been the key to their success all season, but they face perhaps their toughest test when they visit Baton Rouge to take on LSU, as the Tigers defensive front has the size, strength, and athleticism to challenge the Crimson Tide, especially inside. Tiger DC Dave Aranda has brought his innovative style and the combination of his scheme and LSU’s talent have begun to pay dividends in recent weeks, as his defense has not allowed the opposition to score in the 2nd half of their past two games. Where the Crimson Tide have had a big advantage over their opponents is in the play of their tackles, where junior LT Cam Robinson and freshman RT Jonah Williams have improved each week of the season in both the run game and as pass blockers. LSU OLB Arden Key has been the Tiger’s most productive pass rusher this season and they rely upon him to provide pressure from the edge. His matchup versus Robinson will be one to watch throughout the game.

Alabama Crimson Tide Offensive Line Unit Game Notes

Alabama leads the SEC and is 8th in the nation in scoring, averaging 43.9 point per game.

They are 2nd in the conference and 11th in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 264.8 yards per game and nearly six yards per carry.

The O-line unit is helping the Tide put games away, as they average 5.62 yards per carry when the team is leading by 15 points or more.

They also step up their game against the best competition, averaging 284.83 yards rushing per game against FBS Power 5 teams.

The Tide O-line has done a good job protecting true freshman QB Jalen Hurts, who is ranked 4th in the SEC in passing efficiency and also 15th in the conference in yards rushing (521).

LSU Tigers Offensive Line Unit Breakdown, via The Scouting Academy

LSU O-LINE vs. ALABAMA DEFENSE BREAKDOWN:

The O-line unit of LSU will have their work cut out for them this week against a tough Alabama front seven. The match-up will depend on whether LSU can consistently match Alabama’s competitive toughness and play strength for all four quarters with the 8-man rotation that the Crimson Tide use on the defensive line. The Tigers have to establish Leonard Fournette in their Mid Zone Scheme with well-timed play action passes to keep the sticks moving and wear the D-line down, a tough task no one has accomplished to date. If they can do that, they have a good chance to beat Alabama at home in Tiger Stadium. The key match-ups to watch will be how #56 Tim Williams does against both LT #63 K.J. Malone and RT #66 Toby Weathersby, who is coming back from a high ankle sprain. Also watch how C #77 Ethan Pocic and the interior of the LSU O-line unit holds up against the force of DE #93 Jonathan Allen, NT #94 Da’Ron Payne, and DE #54 Dalvin Tomlinson.

LSU Tigers Offensive Line Unit Game Notes

During their 3-game winning streak, the Tigers are averaging 304 yards rushing per game, averaging an SEC-best 8.14 yards per carry during that stretch.

The O-line steps up when they are needed most, as LSU averages 7.07 yards per rush on 3rd down and short situations and they are 4th n the SEC in 3rd down conversions (43.21%).

The Tigers have broken a school offensive record in all of the last three games, including most rushing yards in a game last week when Leonard Fournette ran for 284 yards.

The Tigers’ powerful offense leads the SEC in yards per play (7.00) and has 8 big plays of 50 yards or more.

As one of the five remaining unbeaten FBS teams, this special spotlight will focus on Western Michigan, whose offense and O-line unit have earned special notice from the Joe Moore Award voting committee. Currently ranked 17th, this is the first year in school history the team has been ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll.

Western Michigan Broncos Offensive Line Unit Game Notes

The Broncos lead the MAC in both scoring offense (44.4) and scoring defense (19.3), winning their games by an average of 25.1 points.

They lead the conference and are 12th in the nation in rushing offense (252.8) and are second in the conference in total offense, averaging 502.1 yards per game.

The lead the MAC in time of possession, holding the ball for 33:49 per game and are second in the nation in 3rd down conversions, making first down on 56% of those attempts.

The O-line unit has only given up 11 sacks through 8 games and yields an average of only 4.25 tackles for loss per game, which ranks 8th in the nation.

Western Michigan is 4th in the nation in red zone conversions (94.87%), converting 82% of those into touchdowns, which is 2nd in the nation.

NEBRASKA (#9) @ OHIO STATE (#6) – 11/5 at 8PM ET on ABC

Nebraska Cornhuskers Offensive Line Unit Game Notes

The Huskers O-line Unit leads the Big Ten and is 5th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed, having given up only six sacks in the first eight games.

By giving their QB time to throw, they are 2nd in the Big Ten in yards per passing attempt (8.1) and have 29 passing plays of 20 yards or more.

They average 204 rushing yards per game and are 2nd in the Big Ten in third down conversions (49.12%).

Their O-line has helped the 7-1 Huskers put games away on the ground, as they average over five yards per carry when leading by eight points or more.

Ohio State Buckeyes Offensive Line Unit Game Notes

The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in rushing offense, averaging 272.38 yards per game and 5.73 yards per rush.

On third and short situations, they are averaging 6.66 yards per rush and have converted 50% of all third downs, best in the Big Ten.

As a result of good pass protection, the Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in pass completion percentage (64%) and are 2nd in passing efficiency (146.52).

Ohio State leads the Big Ten in long plays from scrimmage, with 135 plays of ten yards or more, including 21 rushing plays of 20 yards or more.

In controlling the line of scrimmage, the Buckeyes lead the Big Ten and are 4th in the nation in time of possession (34.47).

IOWA @ PENN STATE – 11/5 at 7:30PM ET on BIG TEN NETWORK

Iowa Hawkeyes Offensive Line Unit Game Notes

The Hawkeyes are 2nd in the Big Ten in red zone offense, having scored on 24 of 25 possessions (92.6%), including 20 touchdowns.

They lead the Big Ten in 4th down conversions, having made first downs on five of their six attempts.

The O-line unit has opened holes for 41 rushing plays of 10 yards or more.

Head Coach Kirk Ferentz was assistant offensive line coach under Joe Moore at Pittsburgh in 1980.

Penn State Nittany Lions Offensive Line Unit Game Notes

Penn State is 3rd in the Big Ten in scoring offense, averaging 33.6 points per game, and they are averaging more than 38 pints per game during their current 4-game winning streak.

Also during that streak, they are averaging 5.38 yards per rushing attempt and 221.75 rushing yards per game.

In their upset win over Ohio State, the O-line unit only gave up one sack and the team was penalized only one time for a total of five yards.

Against Purdue last week, RB Saquon Barkley ran for 207 yards and the Nittany Lions put up 62 points, the most ever scored at Ross-Ade Stadium.

FLORIDA (#10) @ ARKANSAS – 11/5 at 3:30PM ET on CBS

Florida Gators Offensive Line Unit Game Notes

The Florida O-line unit has done a good job controlling the line of scrimmage, ranking 2nd in the SEC in sacks allowed (9) and 3rd in the conference in fewest tackles allowed for loss (30).

The Gators lead the SEC in 3rd down conversions, converting 50.43 of those into first downs.

On third and short rushing situations, the Gators have converted 21 of 27 of those into first downs and are averaging 4.56 yards per rush.

When winning by 15 points or more, the Gators are finishing games, averaging 6.74 yards per rushing attempt.

Arkansas Razorbacks Offensive Line Unit Game Notes

The Razorbacks lead the SEC in time of possession, holding the ball for 35:18 per game.

They are 3rd in the SEC in passing offense, averaging 256.4 yards per game through the air.

In giving QB Austin Allen time to throw, Arkansas is 2nd in the SEC in long passing plays, with 89 passing plays of 10 yards or more.

While they have leaned heavily on their passing game this year, the Trenchhogs have blocked well when they need rushing yards to finish games, as they average nearly seven yards per carry when leading by eight points or more.

About the Joe Moore Award

The JOE MOORE AWARD is named after Joe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, and is the only major college football award to honor a unit. The award annually recognizes the nation’s Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit that best displays toughness, effort, teamwork, physicality, tone setting and finishing. The voting committee is comprised solely of people who played or coached the position, including all of the current offensive line coaches at the Division I/FBS level as well as former players, coaches, colleagues of Coach Moore and select media. The inaugural Joe Moore Award went to Alabama in 2015.

About the Foundation for Teamwork

The Foundation for Teamwork is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering teamwork in all societal endeavors and bring that spirit of collective achievement to athletics, education, and organizations. Find out more at joemooreaward.com and follow the Joe Moore Award on Twitter (@joemooreaward), Instagram (@joemooreaward), and Facebook at

About the Scouting Academy

The Scouting Academy is an online-based instructional curriculum designed to better educate students in the player evaluation process of National Football League teams. Established by former NFL scout Dan Hatman, and taught by instructors with over 350 years of NFL front office and coaching experience, The Academy establishes a new standard in education for students seeking to enter the NFL in a player personnel capacity. By utilizing an online platform, The Scouting Academy offers a 16-week comprehensive curriculum that allows students to develop at their own pace.